Animal rescuers often get overwhelmed

Published: Wednesday, July 9, 2014 at 9:22 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, July 9, 2014 at 11:30 p.m.

Residents who run their own animal rescues have good intentions but often get overwhelmed by the physical, emotional and financial responsibilities of properly caring for their animals, animal advocates say.

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“These people who run rescues, a lot of times their hearts are bigger than reality,” said Ruth Chiasson, president of Thibodaux-based HOPE for Animals rescue. “Their hearts are in the right place, but when you commit to rescuing an animal, you have to take care of it financially and physically.”

Chiasson and other animal advocates said the overwhelming task of taking care of several animals may have gotten the better of Dani Morgan, the 30-year-old leader of the Thibodaux-based rescue group We Stand Bayou, who was arrested Friday on 14 counts of animal cruelty.

Lafourche Parish sheriff’s deputies said they found a number of cats and dogs in poor health on her property.

“I know her heart was in the right place, but the reality is different,” Chiasson said.

Problems stem from a lack of state laws governing these types of operations, said Jeff Dorson, Humane Society of Louisiana executive director.

“Here’s the dilemma: There’s no real regulations for rescue operations aside from the state’s cruelty statutes. There’s no oversight, no regulatory agency governing them, and it’s a problem. People get into this business and get in over their heads very quickly. I’ve seen this many times,” Dorson said.

Many people who begin their own animal rescues get overwhelmed quickly because they did not plan properly or have the proper resources to ensure the safety and well-being of the animals in their care, said Tracey Lapeyrouse, director of My Heart’s Desire pet adoption center in Houma.

“Rescuing animals is a ton of work. It takes a lot of physical and emotional work, and it’s very easy to get overwhelmed,” she said. “Physically, it’s about caring for the animals, making sure you’re providing for their basic needs. Emotionally, you’ve got highs and lows. The highs are when dogs get adopted and you get to see them with their families. The lows are when you see the large number of animals on social media that are in kill shelters and are on death row and you can’t help them all. You want to, but you can’t.”

Along with the physical and emotional burden is the financial one. Dorson said he estimates that to get a dog rescued off the street to a baseline of health where it can be adopted costs rescuers $1,500 to $2,000.

“You have to plan it like a business. You have to match your expenses with your income. That’s hard to do. You have to fundraise and garner community support and arrange proper adoptions. It’s complicated. It’s not just taking a bunch of animals and crossing your fingers and hoping that it goes well. You have to plan it thoroughly and get support,” Dorson said.

It takes money and common sense, said Mary Morvant, president of Hail Mary Rescue in Thibodaux.

“My philosophy is if you can’t offer an animal a better place to live than the place they came from, leave them where they are,” she said. “People want to save these animals, but they’re not equipped to take them. They’re using their hearts and not their heads and put them in worse conditions than the ones they came from. You need land, space and money. I’d rather see an animal be humanely euthanized than see one not get the proper care.”

Often, Morvant said, it would be more helpful for the animal community if people who want to open a rescue instead volunteer their time or resources to an already established shelter or rescue.

“Established rescues can always use public support. You don’t have to start your own rescue to help these animals unless you’re equipped to do it. There’s already a huge demand for help from existing rescues,” she said.

<p>Residents who run their own animal rescues have good intentions but often get overwhelmed by the physical, emotional and financial responsibilities of properly caring for their animals, animal advocates say. </p><p>“These people who run rescues, a lot of times their hearts are bigger than reality,” said Ruth Chiasson, president of Thibodaux-based HOPE for Animals rescue. “Their hearts are in the right place, but when you commit to rescuing an animal, you have to take care of it financially and physically.”</p><p>Chiasson and other animal advocates said the overwhelming task of taking care of several animals may have gotten the better of Dani Morgan, the 30-year-old leader of the Thibodaux-based rescue group We Stand Bayou, who was arrested Friday on 14 counts of animal cruelty.</p><p>Lafourche Parish sheriff's deputies said they found a number of cats and dogs in poor health on her property.</p><p>“I know her heart was in the right place, but the reality is different,” Chiasson said.</p><p>Problems stem from a lack of state laws governing these types of operations, said Jeff Dorson, Humane Society of Louisiana executive director.</p><p>“Here's the dilemma: There's no real regulations for rescue operations aside from the state's cruelty statutes. There's no oversight, no regulatory agency governing them, and it's a problem. People get into this business and get in over their heads very quickly. I've seen this many times,” Dorson said.</p><p>Many people who begin their own animal rescues get overwhelmed quickly because they did not plan properly or have the proper resources to ensure the safety and well-being of the animals in their care, said Tracey Lapeyrouse, director of My Heart's Desire pet adoption center in Houma.</p><p>“Rescuing animals is a ton of work. It takes a lot of physical and emotional work, and it's very easy to get overwhelmed,” she said. “Physically, it's about caring for the animals, making sure you're providing for their basic needs. Emotionally, you've got highs and lows. The highs are when dogs get adopted and you get to see them with their families. The lows are when you see the large number of animals on social media that are in kill shelters and are on death row and you can't help them all. You want to, but you can't.”</p><p>Along with the physical and emotional burden is the financial one. Dorson said he estimates that to get a dog rescued off the street to a baseline of health where it can be adopted costs rescuers $1,500 to $2,000.</p><p>“You have to plan it like a business. You have to match your expenses with your income. That's hard to do. You have to fundraise and garner community support and arrange proper adoptions. It's complicated. It's not just taking a bunch of animals and crossing your fingers and hoping that it goes well. You have to plan it thoroughly and get support,” Dorson said.</p><p>It takes money and common sense, said Mary Morvant, president of Hail Mary Rescue in Thibodaux.</p><p>“My philosophy is if you can't offer an animal a better place to live than the place they came from, leave them where they are,” she said. “People want to save these animals, but they're not equipped to take them. They're using their hearts and not their heads and put them in worse conditions than the ones they came from. You need land, space and money. I'd rather see an animal be humanely euthanized than see one not get the proper care.”</p><p>Often, Morvant said, it would be more helpful for the animal community if people who want to open a rescue instead volunteer their time or resources to an already established shelter or rescue.</p><p>“Established rescues can always use public support. You don't have to start your own rescue to help these animals unless you're equipped to do it. There's already a huge demand for help from existing rescues,” she said.</p>